Studies on seed germination and growth in weed species of rice field under salinity stress

An investigation was made to see the salt tolerance of 10 weed species of rice. Properly dried and treated seeds of weed species were placed on 9 cm diameter petridishes lined with Whatman No. 1 filter paper under 6 salinity regimes, viz. 0 (control), 4, 8, 16, 24 and 32 dS m(-1). The petri dishes were then kept in germinator at 25 +/- 1.0 degrees C and 12 hr light. The number of germinated seeds were recorded daily. The final germination percentage, germination index (GI), seedling vigour index, mean germination time and time for 50% germination were estimated. Root and shoot lengths of the weed seedlings were measured at 20 days after salt application and relative growth values were calculated. Results revealed that salinity decreased final germination percentage, seed of germination as measured by GI, and shoot and root length in all the species. Germination of most of the weed seeds was completely arrested (0) at 32 dS m(-1) salinity except in E. colona (12%) and C. iria (13.9%). The species C. iria, E. colona, J. linifolia and E. crusgalli showed better germination (above 30%) upto 24 dS m(-1) salinity level and were regarded as salt-tolerant weed species. J. linifolia, F. miliacea, L. chinensis and O. sativa L. (weedy rice) were graded as moderately tolerant and S. zeylanica, S. grosus and C. difformis were regarded as least tolerant weed species.     

Incidence of metal and antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas spp. from the river water, agricultural soil irrigated with wastewater and groundwater

A total of 144 isolates of Pseudomonas spp. (48 each from the Yamuna River water, wastewater irrigated soil and groundwater irrigated soil) were tested for their resistance against certain heavy metals and antibiotics. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Hg^2?+?, Cd^2?+?, Cu^2?+?, Zn^2?+?, Ni^2?+?, Pb^2?+?, Cr^3?+? and Cr^6?+? for each isolate were also determined. A maximum MIC of 200 ??g/ml for mercury and 3,200 ??g/ml for other metals were observed. The incidences of metal resistance and MICs of metals for Pseudomonas isolates from the Yamuna water and wastewater irrigated soil were significantly different to those of groundwater irrigated soil. A high level of resistance against tetracycline and polymyxin B (81.2%) was observed in river water isolates. However, 87.5% of Pseudomonas isolates from soil irrigated with wastewater showed resistance to sulphadiazine, whereas 79.1% were resistant to both ampicillin and erythromycin. Isolates from soil irrigated with groundwater exhibited less resistance towards heavy metals and antibiotics as compared to those of river water and wastewater irrigated soil. Majority of the Pseudomonas isolates from water and soil exhibited resistance to multiple metals and antibiotics. Resistance was transferable to recipient Escherichia coli AB2200 strains by conjugation. Plasmids were cured with the curing agent ethidium bromide and acridine orange at sub-MIC concentration.     

Application of malt residue in submerged fermentation of Bacillus subtilis

Malt residue is a common waste or byproduct from beer industries after brewing and milling of malted barley. In this work, Bacillus subtilis RB14 was used to study the microbial growth and production of secondary metabolites like lipopeptide antibiotic iturin A in the malt residue for its effective recycling. B. subtilis RB14 could grow in submerged fermentation of malt residue and significant growth (10⁹ CFU/mL) was observed without any supplementation. In submerged fermentation iturin A production using malt residue was about 170 mg/L, which was found to be higher than its production in No.3 (Polypepton, glucose, KH₂PO₄, MgSO₄·7H₂O) medium where production was about 120 mg/L. More than 600 mg/L of iturin A production was observed when malt residue was combinedly used with No.3 medium. This production was significantly higher than their summation of their individual production. However, the growth of B. subtilis in combined medium was found to be similar to that of the submerged fermentation in simple malt residue. Therefore, the remarkable enhancement in production of iturin A in supplemented malt residue was attributed to the nutrients supplied from No.3 medium.     

A systematic review of the utilization of waste materials as aggregate replacement in stone matrix asphalt mixes

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The daily utilization of a large amount of raw materials is causing a rapid depletion of natural resources. The growth of the human population is...     

Role of financial development,environmental-related technologies,research and development,energy intensity,natural resource depletion,and temperature in sustainable environment in Canada

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Environmental sustainability concerns are increasing worldwide; both developing and developed countries face environmental degradation. Literature has...     

Wind and wind power characteristics of the eastern and southern coastal and northern inland regions,South Africa

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The objective of this work is to understand the fluctuating nature of wind speed characteristics on different time scales and to find the long-term...     

Optimization of COVID-19 face mask waste fibers and silica fume as a balanced mechanical ameliorator of fat clay using response surface methodology

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The balanced amelioration of mechanical characteristics of fat clay with an additive refers to the attainment of high strength without compromising...     

Properties of Low Molecular Weight Chitosan Obtained by Catalytic Degradation Using Lanthanum(III)/Halloysite Nanotube Catalysts

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The catalytic degradation of chitosan (CS) using halloysite nanotubes-supported lanthanum(III) (HNT-La3+) catalysts have been studied. The HNT-La3+...